September 9, 2016
You Are the Weakest
Link… Good-bye!
Have you ever seen the game show, The Weakest Link? In it, contestants work together to build up money in a bank by answering questions correctly. After each round the contestants have a chance to vote off the one they perceive to be the weakest link, the one giving the stupidest answers.
There’s an old expression that goes, “A chain is only as strong as its weakest link.” In fact, most of us learned this to be true at an early age by playing the game Red Rover, where children take turns trying to break through the other team’s human chain. To insure success, a team would target the other team’s weakest players.
As we mature, we see the “weakest link” principle played out in life in many different ways. Anywhere teamwork is necessary; there always seem to be a “weak link in the chain” that works against the mission of the team and often is exploited by others.
As you might have heard, our region is going a different direction in terms of how it communicates with those in the region. Instead of our monthly Leader’s Digest publication, we are transitioning over to an e-newsletter called “Link,” which we will send out via email as well as post to Facebook. [Be sure to like Missionary Church East Central Region on Facebook.] While I will no longer be writing articles for Link, I plan to post a blog on Facebook and our website, www.ecregion.org, hoping to spark some discussions on a myriad of topics.
When you receive your first Link e-newsletter, you will notice links across the header. These represent our churches, linked together to form a missional chain of churches making disciples that make disciples. In a way, the links also represent you, the people who make up our churches. If a church or region is to move forward in doing great things for Christ, we need everyone to be strong in their faith and in their witness. As most of you know, one disgruntled parishioner can do a lot of damage in a local church and undo the ministry work of many. Often when a church finds itself in decline, it is the work of a few exercising their selfish will over the honest desires of the many.
So my question for you today is, “Are you the weakest link?” Does your compromised lifestyle hurt the testimony and ministry efforts of others who would call themselves Christian? Are you helping or hindering the ministry of your church? Is your spiritual mediocrity affecting your family dynamics in negative ways?
When a link in a chain breaks, whatever was being held up usually comes crashing down, along with other strong unbroken links. Romans 15:1-2 tells us, "We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves. Each of us should please our neighbors for their good, to build them up.” By helping the weak become strong once again, we also, at the same time, keep ourselves from becoming weak. It’s a win-win endeavor when as Christians we stay firmly linked together in Christ.
Up for Discussion… “What should that look like today, the strong bearing with the failings of the weak in order to make them strong once again?” Post your thoughts.
Have you ever seen the game show, The Weakest Link? In it, contestants work together to build up money in a bank by answering questions correctly. After each round the contestants have a chance to vote off the one they perceive to be the weakest link, the one giving the stupidest answers.
There’s an old expression that goes, “A chain is only as strong as its weakest link.” In fact, most of us learned this to be true at an early age by playing the game Red Rover, where children take turns trying to break through the other team’s human chain. To insure success, a team would target the other team’s weakest players.
As we mature, we see the “weakest link” principle played out in life in many different ways. Anywhere teamwork is necessary; there always seem to be a “weak link in the chain” that works against the mission of the team and often is exploited by others.
As you might have heard, our region is going a different direction in terms of how it communicates with those in the region. Instead of our monthly Leader’s Digest publication, we are transitioning over to an e-newsletter called “Link,” which we will send out via email as well as post to Facebook. [Be sure to like Missionary Church East Central Region on Facebook.] While I will no longer be writing articles for Link, I plan to post a blog on Facebook and our website, www.ecregion.org, hoping to spark some discussions on a myriad of topics.
When you receive your first Link e-newsletter, you will notice links across the header. These represent our churches, linked together to form a missional chain of churches making disciples that make disciples. In a way, the links also represent you, the people who make up our churches. If a church or region is to move forward in doing great things for Christ, we need everyone to be strong in their faith and in their witness. As most of you know, one disgruntled parishioner can do a lot of damage in a local church and undo the ministry work of many. Often when a church finds itself in decline, it is the work of a few exercising their selfish will over the honest desires of the many.
So my question for you today is, “Are you the weakest link?” Does your compromised lifestyle hurt the testimony and ministry efforts of others who would call themselves Christian? Are you helping or hindering the ministry of your church? Is your spiritual mediocrity affecting your family dynamics in negative ways?
When a link in a chain breaks, whatever was being held up usually comes crashing down, along with other strong unbroken links. Romans 15:1-2 tells us, "We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves. Each of us should please our neighbors for their good, to build them up.” By helping the weak become strong once again, we also, at the same time, keep ourselves from becoming weak. It’s a win-win endeavor when as Christians we stay firmly linked together in Christ.
Up for Discussion… “What should that look like today, the strong bearing with the failings of the weak in order to make them strong once again?” Post your thoughts.
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